Jersey Boys: Erik Bates steps in as Tommy DeVito

Ensemble member Erik Bates steps into the role of 'Tommy DeVito' from 27 Sep - 9 Oct 2011, in the Broadway company of the Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical, Jersey Boys.

Bates is temporarily covering the role of 'Tommy DeVito' until Andy Karl replaces him on 11 Oct 2011. Karl is assuming the role from Dominic Nolfi who played his final performance on 25 Sep 2011.

Karl has appeared on Broadway in '9 to 5,' 'Legally Blonde,' Wicked' and 'Saturday Night Fever.' He originated the role of 'Luke' in the Off-Broadway musical 'Altar Boyz.'

Also on the 11 Oct Quinn VanAntwerp will make his Broadway debut when he assumes the role of 'Bob Gaudio' from Ryan Jess, who will play his final performance on 9 Oct 2011.

VanAntwerp has played 'Bob Gaudio' for three years both on tour and in Toronto. Off-Broadway crdits include 'That Other Woman's Child' (37 Arts) and 'Take Me America' (York Theatre).

The musical, now in its 5th year, opened on Broadway at the August Wilson Theatre on the 6 Nov 2005, following previews from the 4 Oct and is currently booking through to 15 Apr 2012.

Jersey Boys is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi, about a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks who became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide - all before they were thirty.

The musical opened to excellent reviews: "Still dynamically alive in music while, as a drama, it catches the very texture, almost the actual smell, of its time." (New York Post); There's no point in beating around the bush — I had a great time." (New York Daily News); "A hot new Broadway show." (Star-Ledger); "It's basically a nostalgic evening—but a thoroughly enjoyable one." (newyorktheatreguide.com)

Winner of the 2006 Best Musical Tony Award about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Jersey Boys is written by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, and is directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Des McAnuff, choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, with Orchestrations by Steve Orich and Music Direction, Vocal Arrangements and Incidental Music by Ron Melrose.

The cast of Jersey Boys is currently led by Ryan Jess (Bob Gaudio), Matt Bogart (Nick Massi), Erik Bates (Tommy DeVito) and Jarrod Spector (Frankie Valli) as The Four Seasons, with Peter Gregus (Bob Crewe) and Mark Lotito (Gyp DeCarlo).

Jersey Boys is produced on Broadway by Dodger Theatricals, Joseph J. Grano, Tamara and Kevin Kinsella, Pelican Group, in association with Latitude Link and Rick Steiner/Oshen/Staton/Bell/Mayerson Group.